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Club World Cup Dreams: Bayern and Dortmund Paparazzi Footed | Ready to Make their Mark
Two titans of German football have their sights set on club football’s grandest stage. The Bundesliga giants, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, both drew interesting, closely matched groups for the inaugural expanded Club World Cup, set to ignite in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025.
Bayern: Familiar Foes and a New Zealand Challenge
Bayern, as the top seed in Group C, will face a challenging, almost continental reunion. The six-time Champions League winners will measure themselves against Oceania champions Auckland City FC from New Zealand. But their European rivals will be familiar faces
Bayern has recently gone head-to-head with Portuguese powerhouse Benfica Lissabon. Bayern edged a tight game 1-0 thanks to Jamal Musiala’s goal, a victory fresh in the minds of both clubs.
“A fascinating, cool group,” said Bayern’s sporting director Christoph Freund, commenting on the draw. “We’ve just played Benfica and know them well. Boca Juniors are well known in Europe; they have a huge fanbase. Playing Auckland will be a fascinating experience. This is going to be a great tournament.”
Boca Juniors were last on the receiving end of Bayern’s dominance in the 2001 FIFA Club World Cup final where Bayern emerged victorious against the Argentinian giants, thanks to a Samuel Kuffour goal.
Dortmund Face Diverse but Expect a Tight Race
Dortmund doesn’t have it easy either. Group F lays with a diverse but potentially dangerous mix of teams waiting.
Dortmund’s group F opponents include Brazilian giants Fluminense of Rio de Janeiro. Rounding out Group F is Ulsan Hyundai from South Korea and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, making for a truly global battle.